Issue 96 Hunger for Secret Knowledge: The Gnostics

Why the lost gospels were really lost.

Interesting and little-known facts about the Gnostics

Ancient heresies are alive and well in modern culture

Gnosticism emerged during a time when Christians faced an identity crisis

The Gnostics believed that knowledge is the key to salvation--for a select few

The discovery of the Nag Hammadi collection brought ancient Gnostic writings to light

Gnostic teachings about Christ in their own words

Irenaeus the "peacemaker" was the early church's best warrior against Gnostic heresy

The label "Gnosticism" is a fuzzy one, describing diverse sects and ideas in the ancient world

Before creeds, even before an official New Testament, there was the Rule of Faith

A bird’s eye view of the early church, the emergence of the Gnostics, and the development of the biblical canon.

Church fathers repudiated gnostic ideas

Despite the appearance of Gnostic "gospels," the early church decided that Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John were without rival

How we date gnostic and biblical manuscripts

What is the truth about Jesus? Ask those who knew his earliest followers, said Irenaeus

Though Gnostic sects faded in the early church, Gnostic ideas have had a long shelf life

Dig deeper into this issue's theme.

Defending the faith in today's cultural climate means not only knowing our Bible but also knowing our history